The Air Dynasty helicopter was also carrying Nepal's aviation entrepreneur Ang Tsering Sherpa, Prime Minister's personal aide Yubaraj Dahal, two officials of the Tourism Ministry and a body guard of the Minister. The dead included pilot Captain Prabhakar KC.

The helicopter caught fire after hitting Chuchche Dada hill in Taplejung district in the mountain region of northeast Nepal, according to the Himalayan Times.

The Minister along with others were going to Pathibhara temple after attending a programme at Chuhan Danda in Panchthar.

Another report quoted Raj Kumar Chhetri, general manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, as saying the crash, in a region that borders both India and Tibet, had probably been caused by bad weather.